E-2020 Country Brief
SURINAME
Malaria has been virtually eliminated in most of inland Suriname, which previously had the highest rates of transmission
across the Americas.
In 2017, 40 cases of indigenous malaria were reported, down significantly from some 1700 cases in 2010.
In addition, since 2014, no deaths from locally-acquired malaria have been recorded. These advances were achieved through proactive and innovative interventions focused primarily in the areas and communities at risk, such as people engaged in informal and small-scale mining operations. Suriname improved access to malaria diagnosis and treatment in these difficult-to-access areas, and also opened a dedicated malaria clinic in the capital of Paramaribo. In recognition of its progress, Suriname was one of three countries in the Americas to win the 2016 Malaria Champions Award, presented by the Pan American Health Organization. The award recognized the country for its success in malaria prevention and control and its push towards elimination. To increase momentum, the government has created a task force to implement its elimination strategy of zero indigenous cases of malaria by 2020 and has expressed its commitment to work with neighbouring countries to address the growing number of imported cases.
indigenous malaria cases
40
in 2017
414
imported malaria cases in 2017
0
death due to imported malaria in 2017
E-2020 Country Brief
MALARIA IMPACT
number of indigenous malaria cases 2010-2017
KEEPING ON COURSE
Suriname will need to:
Contribute its lessons learned to help strengthen regional efforts to eliminate malaria in nearby Brazil, French Guiana and Guyana.
Continue to increase funding for its elimination strategy and meet its commitment to provide free malaria preventive tools to miners and other hard-to-reach and mobile populations. Since 2013, government contributions towards malaria have declined steadily.
Strengthen surveillance and control measures, especially early detection of suspected cases, and prompt diagnosis and treatment.
SURINAME
Populations at greater risk:
Miners and migrant populations near the border with French Guiana
Dominant malaria species:
Plasmodium vivax (68%) Number of areas (foci) with active malaria transmission: not provided
Number of people at risk of malaria in these areas: 80 000
AT A GLANCE
0 500 1000 1500 2000
2017 2016
2015 2014
2013 2012
2011 2010
76 40 81
401 729
356 771
1712
Source: World malaria report 2018
WHO/CDS/GMP/2018.11/Suriname – © WHO 2018. Some rights reserved. This work is available under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO licence.
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WHO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted and dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement.
